I did this before, and I do it again. Arabian mythology is so full of surprises I’m trying to read more about it when I have the time. There was one creature that I forgot for a while, but re-reading about it made me remember how important is to have her meaning present nowadays. I shared some information about it on Instagram, but let me do it here in case you haven’t read about the Anqa: Anqa (Arabic: عَنْقَاء, romanized: ʿanqāʾ),... Read more
Some time ago, when I was talking to someone, I mentioned that my dad and grandfathers had it rough, one of them had to walk in the snow with sandals, my dad slept in the street, and so on. I was walking while it was snowing, and they offered me a ride, but I said I was okay, but they said something that I’ve been thinking about: “just because they did it, doesn’t mean you have to”. I’ve been wondering,... Read more
As a queer, Arab man, I couldn’t see myself in any of the Abrahamic faiths, even less in the conservative environment I grew up in. I wouldn’t go as far as to say I felt lost, but I did feel lonely for sure, wandering on the internet as I tried to find someone like me. Since I became a Pagan, or more specifically, a NeoPagan Witch, I felt more empowered, taken care of, and appreciated. It’s something that I’ve seen... Read more
I’ve been reading about the jinn these days, and while it’s true that I haven’t paid much attention to this blog for a long time, the longest since I started it, I haven’t entirely forgotten about it. I recently started one of the books I have at hand, and have been discovering some interesting things about the Fire Spirits that I haven’t thought about before. While it’s true that they are usually equated to demons and devils, Legends of the... Read more
I woke up today with many of my relatives sharing messages and images about the Eid al-Adha and wishing everyone “Eid Mubarak”. I’ve asked a bit about it in the past years, but only today I seriously sat down to think about it and what it could mean for me, not a Muslim, but a Pagan who wants to honor his Arabic roots and family traditions. Just yesterday I told my mom, when she mentioned that Grandma makes a lot... Read more
I was speaking with a friend recently about our respective practices, what we do and we don’t, our ancestors, and I started was an idea that stuck in my mind: do you become a better person because you are a Pagan? Does this religion make you a better person for being part of it? I’ve been thinking about this for a few days, and while it’s true that I’ve felt better since I became Pagan I don’t think this makes... Read more
While it’s true that I try to focus on my own culture, I can’t help but be interested in others, in different points of view, and see what I can learn elsewhere. Queer spirituality is an idea I like to read about as often as I can, and I feel Queer Qabala: Nonbinary, Genderfluid, Omnisexual Mysticism & Magick, by Enfys J. Book, will be a good choice to anyone who thinks in a similar way. Thanks to the publisher for sending... Read more
While it’s true I’m a fantasy lover, I’ve struggled these days finding something different. I’ve wanted to dwell in a story inspired by the Arabian Nights, the pre-Islamic world, folkloric beliefs of Pagan Arabia, something that combines the magic and wonder with the world I’m slowly discovering. While it’s been hard, I came across an interesting project many could enjoy: The Shrines of Araartu, by Hazem Ameen. A personal project of mine, ‘The Shrines of Araartu’ is a short illustrated trot... Read more
I’ve been wanting to share the news for a while. A few days ago I sat down to chat with the wonderful ladies from That Witch Life Podcast that invited me to their show to speak about what to do when witchcraft doesn’t work. It’s been so long since I had this fun, and I’m so glad they gave me this opportunity. We talked about witchcraft, Charmed, Lady Gaga, Tim Burton, ghosts, and much more! It was hard for me... Read more
I’ve been thinking about this article for a while, not really sure about how to begin with it because the character of Shahrzad, better known as Scheherazade, is perhaps the most known about regarding Arabic literature. One cannot speak about the Arabian Nights or The 1001 Nights without mentioning her name, maybe not even when speaking about the Middle East. Her fame creates an expectation, and that is intimidating for a writer. However, the more I thought about her, the... Read more
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In